Mahindra Duro

As an utility vehicle manufacturer, Mahindra have always reached the desirable heights with each and every four-wheeled and high ground clearance model they have got on offer. But when the wheels get reduced to two, the story is a bit different. This Indian manufacturer have always been considered as underdogs in the two-wheeler business, ever since they acquired Kinetic automobiles Pvt Ltd. The scooters manage to sell in average numbers as compared to their competitors, whereas the motorcycles are less talked about, with company pulling back the Stallio in its very short life span. Though with the Centuro, the company seems to be back on track, with the model clocking a very good initial booking response. And with the highly anticipated 300cc Mojo in pipeline, Mahindra has no intentions of looking back any further. Coming back to scooter arena, Mahindra 2-wheelers’ Duro has recently been revamped and we’ve brought out our magnifying lens to look beneath the surface and tell you all that you want to know about this latest DZ variant.

Remember Kinetic Nova? Yes, that was the Nova which was the only ray of hope with which Kinetic was alive in the market, ever since the scooters began to follow the four-stroke fashion. It’s now a long time Mahindra has acquired Kinetic, but the silhouette of Nova is still alive, and has been christened as Duro. Though it is not a ditto of the Nova, and is out there with some cosmetic changes. For the starters, it has a very macho and eye-catching looks, giving it a feel of a full-sized scooter. The front face houses long sized turn indicators seem like wolf's eye, horn rimmed headlight, rear view mirrors, front mudguard and handlebars. Apart from these, the Mahindra logo and Duro sticker and graphics are pasted at the front side of the scooter. The headlight of the vehicle, although a new change on DZ version, is very familiar with the other scooters in the market and has a clear vision. This time, the rear view mirrors are not in body colour as it was there in Mahindra Rodeo, and has a simple conventional design. Although, the rear garb rails are in very body colour. 

The instrument cluster of the Duro is not a digital unit as that on the Rodeo, but follows an analogue theme. The conventional dashboard comprises of fuel gauge, speedometer, odometer, upper beam indicator and indicators lights. The background colour of the console is white that manages to give a cool look to it. The instruments are clearly laid out and easy on the eye. The speedometer is marked with a green economy riding zone between 30kph and 50kph, and the fuel-gauge prominently set to the right. You get comprehensive switches with push-to-cancel indicators and comfortable control levers that feature the safety of a brake-lock clamp. What’s however unchanged are a pair of irregularly shaped palm grips which hamper the riding experience. The Duro DZ offers generous storage capacity with a lockable glove compartment under the handlebar, plus another below its seat, in addition to the bag-hook-equipped flat floorboard. However, there is no mobile charger socket and front fuel filler, as those found on Rodeo. 

You need to raise your seat to refilling for the petrol tank is fitted under the seat, here. The underseat storage, at 20 liters, is one of the most capacious storage units amongst the scooters. Two lights are fitted in the underseat storage space to allow you see clearly even in night time. The scooter is light weighted and saddle height is low that allow the rider to control the scooter in a better way. The pillion footrests are archaic and a tad crude. And apart from a nice, body-colour and alloy grab handle, the new DZ could also do with better rear-end styling, as the tail lamp cluster is a straight lift-off from the Nova. The fit-and-finish and overall quality have long ways to go before they are up to speed with the industry standard.. Overall, it is a no-frill scooter, too different from its stable-mate, the Rodeo, and is primarily aimed at mature buyers who want a no-nonsense character in their daily ride. The Mahindra Duro is available in seven shades - Royal Purple, Derby Red, Supreme Silver, Pearl White, Fiery Black, Cappucino Brown and Mystique Gray.

This is a no-frills scooter. So, expecting safety features such as disc brakes and ABS is a big no.

The Mahindra Duro comes equipped with the same engine which powers its siblings, Flyte and Rodeo. It is a four stroke engine with a displacement of 124.6cc. The powerful and already tested mill belts out 8 bhp of power at 7,000 rpm and churns 9 Nm of peak torque at 5,500 rpm, equipped with a CVT transmission. The throttle response is mind blogging and never loss the flow in any speed. Another improved area is the ignition system, having adopted dual-curve mapping that allows enhanced economy when riding with a light throttle hand and still allowing for cracking power delivery when called for. This Mahindra can also be started by kick and electronically. 

The scooter sports supercharged battery that ensure instant starting of engine and clear lit up of headlight and turn indicators. Pick-up and acceleration is not a big concern in this scooter as it is loaded with a very poweruful mill that churns good power and help to grow performance. With the help of its power engine, the vehicle managed to achieve a top speed of 80 kmph. This machine is capable enough to cover 0-60kmph in just 12.1 seconds. Performance feels the same, but the DZ feels a little out of its league once past 50kph. It’s mid-and top-end power delivery is disappointing for a 125cc scooter. The Duro engine does however always remain smooth, with no complaints regarding refinement. And 56.25kmpl – That’s what Mahindra 2-wheelers claim for this scooter is. This is a decent figure considering the competition. And with a real world mileage of  46 kmpl, this scooter is able to clock a high range, thanks to its large 7 liter fuel tank.

The Duro DZ provides a comfortable, wide seat and the riding position is upright as on most scooters, with Mahindra having upgraded the suspension which was a major bugbear on the previous Duro. The front shocks are now telescopic forks, with the rear shock absorber damping rates re-tuned, and the handlebar raised in an effort to cure the poor riding position of the older Duro. Enough legroom is left for better placement of leg and bag holder is there for hanging bags. The seats are designed in a way that even after a long drive, you will not feel tiredness. However, taller riders may feel some difficulty since their knee might touch the handlebars or front area. There still remains ground to cover for the Duro DZ’s riding position is dangerously off-track and severely hampers riding this scooter safely. 

This scooter is equipped with latest forks to give smoothest ride. The gearless scooter sports telescopic shock absorbers at front and hydraulic type fork at the rear end. Suspensions work efficiently when jerks come across while the cushion-like seat reduces the weight of jolts. Both the forks add to the comfort and let you enjoy city and highway riding as well. For instant halting, 130mm of drum type brakes are installed in the machine. And for the vehicle like this, these brakes are good enough. Wide tyres and wheelbase help the vehicle to balance it in any speed. The Duro has always suffered from a floorboard positioned too high and close to its seat, and it’s surprising that Mahindra has failed to resolve these basic, crucial flaws completely. So although the ride quality has improved, the Duro DZ is still a scooter that feels dicey going round corners and one has to ride with extra caution to stay safe.